Personalized Cookies. Transferring Onto The Cookie.

I made these cookies for my friend Carlos' birthday. I took a photo of him and traced his facial features onto cardboard - cut out his nose, eyes, mouth, and used them as stencils with edible ink pens to trace on cookie. I then filled in with royal icing.

Not having any talent in art, this was a long and difficult task. I'm wondering if anyone has any easy and effective ways to transfer pictures and ideas onto cookies. Wilton suggests using piping gel for cakes but it came out messy on my cookies.